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Canadians not sold on notion of budget deficit: Poll

OTTAWA - While federal politicians seem resigned to the idea of budget deficits, most of their constituents aren't so convinced, a new poll suggests.

After a decade in which budget surpluses were the norm, Canadians seem to have accepted as gospel that red ink is an evil concept, even in tough times.

The Canadian Press-Harris-Decima survey found 48 per cent of respondents wanted the federal government to juggle its finances to avoid a deficit. Only 44 per cent went for new public spending that might put the government in the red.

The survey offered a choice: ''Manage finances wisely and make sure that we don't go into deficit by spending more than we have or increase spending on things like public works, even if it means going into deficit.''

The findings indicate that some people have shifted their opinions since a similar poll in December suggested 54 per cent opposed a deficit. Ontario is the only region where support for a deficit hits 50 per cent according to the latest data. Majorities opposed a deficit in Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Allan Gregg, chairman of Harris-Decima, said while federal politicians seem to have accepted the need for deficit spending as the economy sags, their constituents aren't necessarily warm to the idea.

''The politicians are out of step with Canadians on this,'' Gregg said. ''The ground is shifting beneath their feet, but there's been an orthodoxy that's been developed on balanced budgets that's over a decade old.''

The Conservatives - who long branded themselves as the party of responsible finances - now are talking deficit and that may mean trouble for them, Gregg added.

''There's growing dubiousness about the effectiveness of what they're talking about and that attacks their reputation for economic competence.''

The survey suggests people are also split over the government's overall handling of the economy. About 48 per cent of those surveyed said the government is handling the economy well or very well, while 47 per cent rated its work poorly or very poorly.

The poll was part of a telephone omnibus survey of 1,000 people conducted Jan. 15-18 and is said to be accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.